End Stigma Now

Research shows that the most effective way to reduce stigma is to know someone with a lived experience of mental health challenges. Knowing someone with a lived experience is two to three times as effective as educational programs in terms of changing attitudes. Help us spread the word that mental illness is real and it’s treatable. Here are six ways you can help end the stigma of mental illness:

Have a story to tell? Not sure what to say, to whom, and when? Thinking about sharing with someone for the first time or becoming an advocate for mental health?

Honest, Open, Proud (HOP): To Eliminate the Stigma of Mental Illness is a workbook for small group discussion or personal use. It helps you to look at the story you have been telling yourself, discern helpful and hurtful self-attitudes, and analyze the pros and cons of disclosing in different settings to different people. Lastly, it guides you to draft your own story into a format that discloses not only the pain of mental health challenges but also the internal and external resources you discovered and use to live your life in the way you choose.

Honest, Open, Proud comes in two versions: adult and high school age. Become a HOP facilitator! For more information and/or facilitator training dates, contact us.

This is a statewide coalition of organizations and individuals formed to promote inclusion and support for all affected by mental illness. If you are located in the state of Wisconsin, we invite you to join WISE. Help expand stigma reduction efforts. Find out more information about WISE.

Your support could save the life of someone who was too afraid to speak up and seek help. Your tax deductible donation to Rogers Memorial Hospital Foundation will help grow these stigma-reduction initiatives, and so much more!

Overcoming challenges – Effective approaches for supervisors to take when faced with troubling behaviors.

Wisconsin Initiative for Stigma Elimination (WISE) advances action to increase inclusion, support and solidarity in the workplace.

Quote from a Mom

“In our culture, we’re embarrassed to say what’s going on with our kids. We don’t want to let other people know – even our own family. They’ll criticize you, or they’ll blame it on their hormones and say, ‘They’re going to outgrow it. Just let time pass.'”

After a while, I was at a point when I was like, no, that’s not going to happen. My son really needs help. So, when we did get help, I didn’t tell anyone. It was my son who told his cousin first, and the cousin was really supportive. Then, I felt like I could let the word out because he was ready to let people know. He didn’t care what people were going to say. That’s how we opened up. We had some negative, but we knew that one day others are going to go through this too, and maybe we can give them the resources to get help.”